Drug Overdose Deaths

The death toll from drug overdoses has nearly tripled nationwide since 1999. Biggest contributors to the rise: prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin and street drugs, particularly heroin. Overdose rates rose in all but three states from 2010 to 2015. Since 1999 they have tripled in most states and have risen by 5 or more times in a handful of states including West Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio.